Five-podium F1 driver now ‘keen to leave’ his current team at the end of the season despite 2026 contract

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There are plenty of twists and turns expected in the Formula 1 driver market before the end of the season.

At the halfway stage of the campaign, more than half of the seats on the grid for the 2026 F1 season have already been filled.

However, just because a driver has a contract in place, it doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily going to fulfil it.

Max Verstappen is being closely linked with a move to Mercedes, which would blow the Formula 1 driver market wide open.

Valtteri Bottas has been linked with replacing Franco Colapinto as Alpine continue to have issues deciding their best driver line-up.

Flavio Briatore is now in charge at Alpine with a new team principal yet to be hired, and Luca de Meo is about to step away from the parent company Renault.

He may need to find two new drivers for 2026 at this rate, with Pierre Gasly unhappy with the direction the team are now going in.

READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Pierre Gasly ‘keen to leave’ Alpine despite 2026 contract agreed

A report from the Argentine source Infobae has shared more information about what’s happening behind the scenes at Alpine.

They believe that despite Gasly having a contract for next season, he’s ‘keen to leave’ with the team rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.

Gasly, who has five podium finishes and a single race win to his name, has scored all of Alpine’s points this season.

However, he was absolutely furious on the team radio as he was unable to convert a top 10 start into points at the Austrian Grand Prix.

He could do nothing to stop his Alpine car losing position after position, and there’s a real risk of Alpine going into the new set of Formula 1 regulations as the weakest established team on the grid.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Flavio Briatore is unconvinced by Pierre Gasly at Alpine after 2025 struggles

A video from The Race on YouTube provided more details about Gasly’s future and explained: “Gasly was convinced that the car was broken and there was some minor floor damage discovered post-race, but it didn’t seem to explain the extent of the struggle or the terrible tyre management that meant Gasly faded miles from points contention.

“What’s interesting within this is that Gasly didn’t exactly keep calm during the race, and might have got sucked into a misery spiral.

“He also qualified poorly in Canada, partly hurt by an unfortunately timed Q1 red flag.

“So, there has been a sense that Briatore is not sure just how good Gasly is, in addition to the obvious question about Colapinto.

“Briatore’s implication is that Alpine has a little doubt about the true level of its car and where its weaknesses really are.

“So, he feels that’s not just down to having one car in the mix, it’s that the good car can also be inconsistent.

“Would Bottas show Alpine where Gasly is lacking? Would he help raise Gasly’s level?

“Alpine’s looking for evidence that the car is capable of points if it has two drivers fighting week in, week out at the peak of the car’s potential.

“But, if that’s not the case, then it’s stuck. The weaknesses in the 2025 car are now too chronic, and there are no major updates planned with active development now all on 2026 and nothing seemingly coming down the pipe for this car.”

Gasly was one of the standout drivers in pre-season, but that potential hasn’t been converted into points now that the campaign has begun.

If Gasly does try and force an exit, there aren’t too many landing spots for him, but he would be a very attractive prospect for newcomers Cadillac, given his experience.

The new American team are currently looking at drivers who are out of a drive, but they may potentially be able to lure any unhappy drivers away from their current teams if the offer is right.